by Sarah DeMaranville

Geneseo Current

Ten-year-old Callen Moe of Geneseo rolled onto the field at Wrigley Field on Sept. 13 and threw the ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago Cubs played the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Callen’s track team, the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, had been asked to choose an athlete for the honor. Knowing he was a big Cubs fan, the team chose him.

“When I heard, I was in shock,” Callen said. “I never thought I would do anything this amazing.”

From the field, Callen got a closer look at the players and a sense of just how big Wrigley is. Getting to go on the mound was another highlight.

His father, Philip Moe, called it surreal to see Callen’s name on the video board and watch him wheel across the field. Being on the field was a dream come true for Philip, too, but watching his son throw a pitch before the Cubs crowd was the best part.

Callen plays softball, basketball, sled hockey, and track. Baseball is his favorite sport because he likes throwing and hitting. Philip said sports have given Callen the chance to compete and build the same friendships and camaraderie his peers find through athletics. He credited the coaches and organizers who have supported Callen along the way.

Callen has two ambitious goals: to compete in the Paralympics and to become the first person in a wheelchair to play in Major League Baseball. On Sept. 13, he got his first chance to take a Major League mound.